Land Rover offers out-of-this-world towing experience

Land Rover is offering punters who stump up $250,000 for a seat on a Virgin Galactic space flight, the opportunity to secure an exclusive 'Astronaut Edition' Range Rover 4WD SUV.

An SV Bespoke vehicle offered exclusively to Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts, the 3500kg tow rated Range Rover Astronaut Edition comes in only one colour, Zero Gravity Blue which was "inspired by the depth and intensity of the night sky".

There's also special badging on the sides and rear of the car as well as puddle lamps which project an image of SpaceShipTwo.

Two discs within the cupholders are made from the front landing skid of the spaceship that completed the first successful space flight in December 2018, and Future Astronauts will be able to have the piece replaced with one made from the skid of the ship from their own commercial flight—complete with a personal inscription featuring details of the "life-changing experience".

The Astronaut Edition gets a number of other unique touches including white leather interior with blue stitching. The centre console also has a "DNA of Flight" graphic on the carbon-fibre trim that depicts iconic modes of flight, from Icarus's wings to the Wright Brothers' plane and the Apollo Lunar Module. The same graphic is embossed on the rear armrest, while the headrests have SpaceShipTwo's outline stitched into them.

The out-of-this-world deal was announced as part of Land Rover's three-year extension to its global partnership with Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial ‘spaceline’ at the unveiling of their latest spaceship, the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo.

Land Rover has a minor role in the commercial spaceship company's day-to-day operations which includes towing the space vehicles, carrying equipment and clearing runways before take-off.

The luxury SUVs also played key roles during the company’s first two spaceflights which saw Virgin Galactic become the first private company to fly humans to space on a spaceship designed for commercial service.

Virgin Galactic has already signed-up around 600 Future Astronaut customers, who will be transported to their flights from Spaceport America, in Land Rover vehicles.

Virgin Galactic has a team of eight highly experienced pilots and is preparing for its next rocket-powered flight in New Mexico. Founder Sir Richard Branson is planning to fly to space later in 2021.